Semion Mogilevich Organization Eurasian
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY TABLE OF CONTENTS I. SYNOPSIS.1 II. ORGANIZATION....2 III. OPERATIONS. 22 IV. LINKS TO OTHER OC GROUPS.31 V. FINANCES.33 VI. POLICE/PUBLIC CORRUPTION.34 VII. COMMUNICATIONS.35 VIII. CHARACTERISTICS.,.36 * V^IX. ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES. 37 X. ASSESSMENT.53 XI. BASIS OF INFORMATION.!•.56 XII. APPENDIX.57 r A. Areas of Operation - Semion Mogilevich Organization •* B. Locations of Key Members/Associates C. Biographical Information on Members/Associates FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY I. SYNOPSIS In November 1994, a multinational working group on Eurasian organized crime (OC) met in Moscow, Russia, to discuss the threat posed by Eurasian criminal organizations. The working group, consisting of Russian, German, Italian, and U.S. law enforcement representatives, identified five Eurasian criminal groups with multinational operations that are of mutual investigative interest. One of these groups is the Semion Mogilevich Organization, based in Budapest, Hungary. Numbering approximately 250 members, it is headed by Semion "Seva" Mogilevich. Principal activities of the Mogilevich Organization include weapons trafficking, nuclear materials trafficking, prostitution, drug trafficking, dealing in precious gems, and money laundering. The Mogilevich Organization operates across Central Europe, including Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, , Austria; and Moscow, Russia. Its activities also extend to t:he United States, Ukraine, United Kingdom, France, Slovakia,'..and Israel. The center of the Mogilevich Organization's financial operations is Arigon, Ltd., a company registered in the-Channel Islands, United Kingdom. Arigon, Ltd. deals extensively with the Ukraine, selling oil products to Ukrzaliznytsa, the Ukrainian state railway administration. Arigon uses a number of banks in its operations, with accounts identified in Stofckholm, Sweden; New York City; London, United Kingdom; and Geneva, Switzerland. Principal front companies in the United States are FNJ Trade Management Corporation in Los Angeles, California, and YBM Magnex in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The Mogilevich Organization is tied to two other major OC groups - the Vyacheslav Ivankov Organization and the Solntsevskaya Organization - and also to Eurasian crime figures Monya Elson and Alimzhan Tochtachunov. Their operations and contacts overlap in some instances, as evidenced by meetings, joint investments, and silent partnerships in firms engaged in OC activity. FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY 1 FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY 31. QEgANIEATION Hungary Semion Yudkovich Mogilevich, aka Seva, Senya, Sergei Yurievich Semion Mogilevich is the leader of a Ukrainian criminal organization based in Budapest, Hungary. He is a naturalized Israeli citizen, emigrating from .Ukraine in 1989. Mogilevich has lived in Herzliya, Israel (a primarily diplomatic community outside Tel Aviv) ; Paris, France,- and Budapest, Hungary. He has lived in Budapest, Hungary, since 1990. During 1995, Mogilevich stayed in Hungary for two months, spending the rest of the year in Israel or Paris. Semion Mogilevich began his criminal career in the 1970s with the Lyuberts Mafia group in Russia. His primary * activities were petty crimes and counterfeiting. He also-derived profits from funeral arrangements. In the early 1980s, Semion Mogilevich became affiliated with the Solntsevskaya Organization. During this time ihe was involved with the organization of Jewish emigration from Russia. With limits on assets taken out of the country, Mogilevich arranged for emigres to take out additional assents, earning profits for his services. Russian authorities reported that Mogilevich was sentenced by a Kiev court in 1977 for illegal currency dealings. In the late 1980s, Semion Mogilevich moved to Poland for approximately one year. In 1989, he married and moved to Hungary. Following his arrival in Budapest, Mogilevich purchased the Black and White Nightclub and several other entertainment establishments which serve as bases of operations for criminal activity. In early 1991, Mogilevich purchased the Black and White Nightclub and U Holubu restaurant in Prague, Czech Republic. Another firm acquired by Mogilevich was Arigon, Ltd., which was formed from the company Arbat International in Moscow, Russia. Arigon was registered in 1990 in Alderney, Channel Islands, United Kingdom. Semion Mogilevich changed his methods of operation in 1992, turning to international investment, and illegal financial speculation in Hungary (exchanging rubles into East German marks). The firm YBM Magnex was established in Budapest'in 1992, with Anatoly Kulachenko the chairman. Other officers included Igor Fisherman, Alexander Alexandrov, Jacob Bogatin, Frank Greenwald, and Sergei Maximov. FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY 2. FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY In 1993, Semion Mogilevich consolidated his businesses, investing his own and other investor's assets. Through Arigon, he obtained a 90% interest in the firm Army Co-op (701 million forints) with the assistance of Victor Naishullex. Army Co-op was then used to privatize the state-run Digep machine factory. This transaction enabled Mogilevich to become a direct owner of the Hungarian armaments industry. Mogilevich also owns a furniture-manufacturing company in London, United kingdom, and a casino in Moscow, Russia. Arigon, ltd. Is involved in selling clothing to the FSU and oil to Ukrainian Railways, and obtained exclusive rights to insure tourists traveling to Ukraine. Mogilevich also reportedly maintains dealings with the Ukrainian energy minister and energy- affiliated companies. Semion Mogilevich is a key contact of the Solntsevskaya Organization. His business affairs are concurrent with thos$ of Solntsevskaya. Mogilevich's relationships with Sergei Mikhailov and Viktor Averin, leaders of the Solntsevskaya .Organization, are described as characterized by fear, but not of subservience. Mikhailov and Averin use Mogilevich for establishing financial operations. Passport records on Semion Mogilevich reveal travel to Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Munich, Germany; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Gjreece. Mogilevich has traveled und^r altered names, including Mogilevitch, Mogiletin, and first name Semyon. Mogilevich has traveled to Los Angeles, California, no fewer than five times between May 1992 and November 1994, using temporary visitor visas issued in Tel Aviv, Israel. Mogilevich traveled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Miami, Florida; and back to Philadelphia between December 1, 1995, and December 7, 1995. Mogilevich visited new York City in January 199G to meet with an individual identified as "Sasha Rezany," described as having extensive facial scarring resulting from a knife fight. "Sasha Rezany" may be identical to Alexsander Roudavsky, a Russian OC figure and Mogilevich associate in Philadelphia. Alexei Viktorovich Alexandrov, aka The Plumber Alexei Alexandrov was identified by an FBI source as One Of the Santechnik brothers (Sanitation Engineers), the other oeing Viktor Alexandrov. The Czech Internal Security Service ^“IS) identified Alexandrov as a principal figure in the Ho9ilevich Organization. He was based in Prague, Czech Republic, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY 1 FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY where he acted as Semion Mogilevich's chief negotiator. Alexandrov also ran the Prague subsidiary of Arigon for Mogilevich. He travels frequently to Russia, Europe, and the United States. Alexandrov is an Israeli citizen. His primary responsibility in the prostitution business is the placement of Russian girls in the market and the creation of legitimate covers for them. Mogilevich and Vitaly Savalovsky provide the bodyguards for the prostitutes' protection. Alexei Alexandrov holds degrees in economics and engineering and has a more professional demeanor than most of Semion Mogilevich's associates. He was the former director of BP Tradeproduction, a Soviet/West German joint trade venture. He is also listed as a director of Arigon Co., Ltd. FBI Los Angeles reports that Alexei Alexandrov had an address listed in California identical to that of Zoya Sokolovskaya. « Alexei Alexandrov was one of five individuals .declared persona non grata by the Czech Republic following the police raid on the U Holubu nightclub in Prague on 5/31/95. The others were Semion Mogilevich, Anatoly Katrich, Viktor Averin, and.Sergei Mikhailov. The Hungarian National Police (HNP) identified Alexei Alexandrov as Semion Mogilevich's contact with the HNP, providing derogatory information on Mogilevich's competitors. Vitaly Borisovich Savalovsky Vitaly Savalovsky is the "underboss’1 to Semion Mogilevich. He fraudulently obtained residence status in Hungary through a false marriage. He handles protection, smuggling, and prostitution for the Organization. Igor Alexandrovich Stoliarchuk, aka Stolyarchuk Igor Alexandrovich Stoliarchuk handles money laundering for Semion Mogilevich. Aleksey Anatolyevich Lugovcov, aka Alex, Aleksey Sergeyevich Lugovtsov Aleksey Anatolyevich Lugovcov, aka "Alex," is the second-in-command under Mogilevich in Budapest. He is involved FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY 4 FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY in drug trafficking and smuggling, and is believed to be in charge of Semion Mogilevich's prostitution operations. He leads of crew of less than a dozen men. The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) reports that Aleksey Lugovtsov is a former Soviet Army tank commander who served in East Germany. He is also a former detective